Method and apparatus for sewing multi layers of material



Nov. 20, 1956 Filed March 9, 1953 J. A. cAsH, JR 2,771,045

METHOD' AND APPARATUS FOR SEWING MULTI LAYERS OF MATERIAL `7 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

JAMES ,4. 'CnS/1w?.

Nov. 20, 1956 J. A. cAsH, JR

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SEWING MULTI LAYERS OF MATERIAL 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 9, 1953 Re verse @rive Pos/nan IN V EN TOR. JAMES A A5/f JR.

Nov, 20T. 1956 J. A. cAsH, JR 2,771,045

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SEWING MULTI LAYERS OF MATERIAL Filed March 9, 1953 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 l .IN1/EMDR. JAMES A (65H ./R.

Nov. 20, 1956 J. A. cAsH, JR

METHOD `AND APPARATUS FOR SEWING MULTI LAYERS Ol" MATERIAL 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 9. 1953 JAMES A. .CASH fn.

BY m f Nov. 20, 1956 -J. A. cAsH, JR 2,771,045

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SEWING'MULTI LAYERS 0F' MATERIAL .Filed umh 9, 195443 7 sheets-sheet 5 INVENToR. JAMES 60S/,f f//R BY Wm ,maar

Nov. 20, 1956 J. A. cAsH, JR 2,771,045

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SEWING MULTI LAYERS OF MATERIAL Filed March 9, 1953 '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 ml 56a fad 56 d a d a la r 1 r--gfl VTI l l 1 l l I I I l I I l l l l l l l l I l l l I t I l I 1 I l l 1' L l L j i bl- C 6 n l F/a. 2.2

, INVEN TOR. JAMES A. Cash/JR.

gNov. 20, 1956 J. A. cAsH, JR

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SEWING MULTI LAYERS OF MATERIAL 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed March 9, 1953 United States Patent METHOD AND APPARATUSFGRSEWING MULTI LAYERS F MATERIAL James A. Cash, Jr., Louisville, Ky., y.assigner t0 American :MattressMachine Co., Louisville, Ky., a corporation of Kentucky Application March 9, 1953:,l Serial No. 341,199 42 claims. (Cl. 11a- 2) Thepresent invention relates to fa' method and-apparatus for sewing multi layers of .material and relates in particular to Ia method and a machine forfsewing mattress borders in a novel manner. f

The edge border of a mattress is usuallyformed of .a layerrof cloth and a layer of felt or wadding, andsome- 4timesan `underlayer of scrim is also'inclu'ded yto .support the wa'dding. The conventional way of sewing such -border 'strips is rby a series of transversegparallel'linesof stitching lying generally at right angles .to theirunning edgeof the strip. Some machines make independentflines of stitching, severing the thread at the end ofeachfpass., whileother machines have the transverse-lines successively joined by longitudinal lines of stitching in the material which serve to hold the hem of the .border strfiP. It has also been proposed to employ diagonal ,crossed lines i of stitching for this purpose, and multi needle machines for this purpose havev been proposed. One disadvantage of a multi needle machine is that if one thread breaks orruns out, the machine continuesto operate-and produces an imperfect product that either must `vbefreworkedA at yadded expense, or -must lbe discarded. -fSuch ,machinesalso are expensive to maintain.

According to the present invention, I lprovide asewing :machine ,which employing one needle, produces :crossed :transverselines ,of stitching by a continuous operation. The machinealternately feedsthe material, iirsts7 in .-one idirection, then .in the other direction, and a sewing head iis synchronously operated to traverse the material `while the material is being fed. Inthis way crossed lines fof transverse stitching are formed in a lattice-pattern, ;and by properly proportioning Ithe forwardandreverse ;feeds,.anyfdesired number of lines of stitchingpergunit'of Vlength may be formed. In the preferred arrangement hereinafter described in detail the sewing head'reciprocateswith a dwell period at each end of the stroke. By feeding the material forward duringthe traversing stroke a vdiagonal line of stitches is formed. Then, while the sewing head dwellsatthe end of its strokethefmaterial is `fedarearwardly, the rearward feed'` being less fthan ,the forward feed, so as to position the needle at a forward point `on the material. The material then is. fed .gforwardly while the sewing lhead traverseson its 'return stroke, to .produce a second diagonal line of ,stitches crossing the first diagonal line. The sewing .headagain dwellsat the end of its stroke, while -thematerial .isgffed rearwardly to position the needle at a forward point ton the material. Because ofthe difference in=forwardfand rearward feeds, theneedle is now in position toymake another vparallel line of diagonal stitches yspaced rearwardly .from the rst diagonal line vof stitches. and the cycle of-operation isrepeated. The ratio offorward-and rearward feed determines the number of times the diagonal lines of stitching cross, and therefore adjustment of 'this ratio varies the pattern.

The invention also contemplates such a machinewhich by afsimpleadjustment, maybeoperated toiproducethe conventional vertical stitch pattern. To r fconvert fthe ICS machine Yinto one for producing parallel transverse lines of stitches, the rearward feed mechanism is rendered 'materiaL and Lthe material is fed forwardly during dwell yperiods of the sewing head. In either case, the lines of connecting thread between transverse lines of stitching 'maylie inthe material, or off the material adjacent the running edge. The latter arrangement presents the advantagev thatwhen the border is assembled to the mattress, kbulki'ness at the seam is avoided. The arrangement `also jallows for a great lvariety of designs and arrangements to be produ/ced vby a single machine.

'Although in the preferred embodimentthe stitching is continuous, I do not intend toexclude an arrangement in Awhich vthe thread is severed so that the vvarioustransverse lines of. stitching are disconnected.

The inventionjfurther contemplates an adjustmentfor 'the machine which enables it to operate on a wide range of' widths of material; an adjustment for easily centering or shifting the material relative to the center of the sewing stroke; and an improved arrangement for keeping the material held -down and in proper Atension while it is being .fedthrough the machine Vand while undergoing the stitching operations.

rOther objects of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing .detailed description. of theinvention taken in connection .with the vaccompanying drawings illustrat- .ing Y.preferred embodimentsof the invention by way of exarnnlerandewherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an embodiment of the invention with the cover plate removed and part broken away;

Figur-e 2 isaside .elevation of the broken off portion of Figure 1;

,Figure l3 is a side elevation of yFigure l as seen from the opposite side with part of .the machine broken away;

Figure 4 is a section taken on line IV-IV of Figure 3 withparts removed;

Figure 5 isla plan view of 4Figure 1 vwith the sewing head remoyedand-with parts brokenlaway;

,-z'Figure 7 is an enlarged view illustrating an operating detail; y v

Figure 8, is .an elevation ofa subassembly as viewed from the leftof Figure 1 or 6; i

Figure 9 isa vertical section through the sewing head stroke adjusting mechanism; i

v.Figure 10v -is a skeleton -view showing the arrangement ofthe feed rolls and their manual adjustment taken on line X-,-X of Figure 5;

yFigure 1:1 is a side elevation of a modified lsupport for the strips of material to'be assembled;

Figure 12 is a section .taken online XII-)GI o'f Figure 11;

Figure 13 isa side elevation yof part of Figure 8 as viewedvfrom Vthe right, showing apawl arm modified from that lshown. in' Figure l YFigureY 1f4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line XIV-:xiv of Figure 5;

Figure 15 is a cross section view-ofthe windup roll mechanism;

Figure .16 isanobverse elevation of a ratchet arm; .Figure 17 is a diagrammatic representation of one form of sewing head actuating cam;

Figure 23 is a diagrammatic view of a feed actuator cam;

Figure 24 is a diagrammatic representation of a modified head oscillating cam;

Figures 25 and 26 show representative designs produced by the cam of Figure 24; and

Figures 27, 28 and 29 illustrate crossed stitch patterns produced by the cam of Figure 24.

Referring to Figure l, a composite web made of webs 112, 113 and 114, is fed into the machine at the rear (shown as the right side) passes forwardly to the left, and is wound up on a reel 224 at the front 4or left end. Referring to Figures 5 and 10, the course of the web is shown in Fig. by the arrows. The composite web emerges from the hemmer 117 and passes between feed rollers 91, 95, 9K4, over support 129 having a transverse slot 131 therein, under hold down rollers 151, 1151', and between rollers 134, 135, 139. The sewing head 1'5 (Fig. 1) carrying a looper reciprocates transversely of the support over the slot 131 which allowsthe needle to pass through the slot to the looper. The forward feed of the web is accomplished by rotating the feed rolls to move the web in the direction of the arrows, and the reverse feed is prlcduced by reversing the direction of rotation of the ro s.

Sewing head needle drive Referring to the drawing (Fig. 3), a pair of guide bars 1, 1 are suitably secured to a cross bar 2 at one end of the frame and to the bosses 3, 4 (Figs. 4 and 6) on the side plates 5, 6 at the other end of the frame. A carriage plate 7 (Fig. 4) has projecting sets of bosses 8 and 9 at its corners, the upper set 8 having transverse holes to receive studs which carry the ball bearing rollers 10 bearing on the tracks or guide bars 1, 1 to support the carriage plate. The lower set of bosses 9 are slotted to receive studswhich carry ball bearing rollers 12, and by means of set screws 13 these studs and rollers may be adjusted vertically to bear on the lower face of the guide bars and eliminate play. Side thrust rollers 14 carried by suitable studs on the carriage plate engage the sides of the guide bars. The sewing head 15 is suitably secured to the carriage plate.

A splined drive shaft 16 is journalled in a bearing member 17 on an extension on the cross bar 2 and in a bearing member 18 mounted on the carriage, this shaft being held against endwise movement by suitable thrust collars. A pulley 19 extending through a slot 21 in the carriage has a keyed connection with the splined shaft 16 and is held between bearing 18 and thrust bearings inserted between the pulley and a fork 22 depending from the carriage. A belt 23 around pulley 19 and a pulley 24 on the sewing head transmits power to drive the sewing mechanism in the head. A motor 25 on the frame carries a pulley 26 on its shaft, and a belt 27 extending around pulleys 26 and pulley 28 on shaft 16 drives the shaft 16 and thus drives the mechanism of the sewing head through pulley 19, belt 23 and pulley 24.

Reversing mechanism A gear box 31 on the frame contains a reversible gear mechanism of suitable construction which is driven through a pulley 32 on driven shaft 33 through a belt 34 extending around pulley 32 and a variable pitch pulley 35 on the motor shaft. Any suitable reversing gearing may be employed in box 31, and as the details of the reversing gear forms no part of the invention they are not illustrated and will be described only briefly. The power input shaft 33 has a worm meshing with a worm wheel on a transverse shaft, suitably journalled in housing 31, the transverse shaft carrying a mitre gear at its end. The driven shaft 36 carries a shifter sleeve splined thereon to which are fastened opposed mitre gears alternatively meshing with the driving mitre gear. By means of a lever 37 attached to the shifter sleeve in the gear box, the sleeve and mitre gears thereon are shifted along the driven,

shaft to drive the driven shaft 36 in forward or reverse, as desired. The lever 37 is operated by a rod 38 extending to the side of the machine and is shifted by a swivelled control arm 39 (Fig. 8) having an operating arm 40 (Fig. 3) equipped with a retractible detent 41 which holds the rod 38 and lever 37 in either forward or reverse position.

. Variable speed cam drive A belt tightener arm 42 is secured on a shaft 43 (Figs. 3, 5 and 10) suitably journalled at one end in the frame and at the other end in a hollow stud 44 (Fig. 1) passing into the boss 45 (Fig.,4) on the side plate 5, this shaft being suitably held against longitudinal movement. Arm 42 carries an idler pulley 46 engaging the belt 34. A bowed adjusting arm 47 (Figs. 10 and 3) is suitably clamped on shaft 43 near one end, the arm extending through a space in the frame, and has an extension 48 depending therefrom in which is formed an arcuate slot 49. A boss 51 extending from side plate 5 has a tapped bore therein to receive the clamping bolt 52 which passes through slot 49. By raising or lowering arm 47 the shaft 43 is rotated to move arm 42, and the arm 47 may be locked in adjusted position by tightening bolt 52. The shifting of idler pulley 46 by arm 42 adjusts the tension of belt 34 to vary the speed of driven pulley 32. The driven shaft 36 (Fig. 4) extending from the gear box is suitably coupled to and drives a cam shaft 53 journalled in a long bearing 54 mounted on a cross member 55 on the frame. Cam shaft 53 carries a plate 56 on its end, and a cam cylinder 57 is bolted thereto, this cam cylinder having a cam track 58 thereon. This track is in the general shape of a pair of oppositely disposed half helixes 58e and 58g (Fig. 17) the ends of which are joined by circumferential portions, 58f and 58h,y the points Where joining occurs being indicated at 58a, 58b, 58C and 58d The cylinder also has a flange or track 59 adjacent one edge (Fig. 4), this track comprising depressed portions (Fig. l) 59f and 59h connected by plane or protruding portions 59e and 59g. In addition, a loop cam 60 is secured to the end of the cam cylinder, as by bolts 61. This loop cam has curved portions (Fig. 23) 60e, 601, 60g and 60h, meeting at miniv mum radius points 60a and 60e, and at maximum radius `points 60b and 60d. A rim or flange 62 surrounds the cam edge to provide a track therebetween.

'j Sewing head stroke A web plate 63 (Figs. 4 and 9) extending between the side plate 5 and an intermediate or bridge plate 64 carries a bearing 65 in which is journalled one reduced end of a sleeve 66, `the other reduced end of this sleeve being journalled in a bearing 67 bolted to the frame at the rear of the machine. At the rear an arm 68 on the sleeve carries a roller 69 which engages in the cam track 58, and -as the cam cylinder 57 and track 58 rotate the arm 68 and sleeve 66 are oscillated back and forth by the action of the cam track. A hollow flattened crank arm 71 is carried at the forward end of the sleeve. A rod 72 passing through the sleeve is journalled therein for rotation and at its inner end carries a mitre gear 73. A threaded rod 74 in the crank arm 71 carries a meshing mitre gear 75 and a cross pin 76 on a sleeve 77 is threaded thereon. A fin 78 extending from the carriage plate 7 has a clevis 79 swivelled thereon and a connecting rod 81 is secured at one end to the clevis 79, the other end of this rod being connected to a clevis 82 swivelled on cross pin 76. Thus, as crank arm 71 oscillates it acts through the connecting rod 81 to reciprocate carriage 7 back and forth to reciprocate the sewing head 15.

Stitch adjustment The sewing head 15, which reciprocates the needle 83 in known manner is driven at a uniform speed through pulleys 26, 28, belt 27, shaft 16, and pulleys 19, 24 and belt 23 from the `motor 25. The shifting of arm 47 {EF-ig. Il) .np-or `down 1Vrotates-shaft43(1?-`igs. ;1.0 and) tofshiftarm 42 and idler ypulley 46,-thus changinggthe `tension of belt 34 vand `causing the variable Vgpulley 35 -.to;changethe speed of -pulleyv32. This,rin tur-n,ichanges ,the speed of cam cylinder 57 and cam track 58 to change Sewing head stroke adjustment Adjustment of pin 76 and sleeve 77 upaor down along ,screw y74 changes the effective throw of crank 71, and thus changes the length of strokeof the sewing head. Thisadjustment is made at the rear of the machine by .releasing lock nut 84 (Fig. 49) on the threaded end of kshaft 72, and turning hand wheel 85. attached to the shaft, to .raise or lower sleeve 77 land pin 76. Provision is made for the change in angularity ofarm 68and crank 71 so that for equal angular movements of arm68 the horizontal component of movements will be equal. This is done by having the cam portions 58a and' 58e` depart 4slightly from a true helical form (not shown).

Rear feed rollers A pair of arms y36, 86 (Fig. v5) are journalled on suitable stub shafts secured in the end vplate 6 and intermediate plate 64 extending above the material supporting surface, one of the stub shafts 88 (Fig, 1) carrying a pinion 89 at its end. An upper feed roller 91 is carried bythese arms on a shaft 91a (Fig. 10) which extends ythrough an arcuate slot 92 in plate 6 and carries av spur geark 93 on its end meshing with pinion 89. Beneath roller 91 are two rollers 94 and 95 on shafts 94a and 95a, journalled in suitable bearings and carrying pinions 96 and 97 at the ends of their respective shafts. An idler pinion 98 suitably journalled on a stub shaft carried by plate 6 meshes with pinions 97 and9. A large driver gear 99 mounted on a bearing on stubshaft'101meshes with roller pinions 96 and 97, and thus drives rollers 94 and 95 in the same direction. Reversing idler gear 98 meshes with pinion 97 and idler pinion 89 which in turn meshes with pinion 92 and thus drives roller 91 in the `opposite direction.

A shaft 102 (Fig. l) journalled on the ,plates y64 and 6 carries a conveyor roller, and an endless conveyor belt 103 passes over this roller and a similar roller 104 on shaft 105. The latter shaft is adjustably mounted on threaded studs 106 carried on the frame extension 107. A sprocket 108 (Fig. 3) is carried on the end of the shaft 95a carrying roller 95, and shaft .102 carries a sprocket 109 at one end. An endless chain 110 passes around sprockets 108 and 109, and around an adjustable idler sprocket '111 whereby the conveyor is driven in synchronism with the feed rollers.

Hemmer and adjustment f The mattress ends generally are formed from two or more layers, comprising the outer oloth 112 (Figs. 1 and 7), padding 113, and a layer of scrim 114. A spindle 115 removably held in socket members on the plates 6 and 64 at the rear of the machine receives the roll of cloth and the cloth passes from the roll (not shown) around a suitable slack take-up member 116 into a hemmer 117 (Figs. and 14). The padding or wadding 113 -on a roll carried by a suitable spindle on the extension or bracket 107 on the frame passes down to the conveyor belt 103 which carries it into the hemmer, and the scrim 114 comes from its roll through a slack take-up device 1,19 (similar to 116) into the hemmer. The hemmer at the rear of the machine is of any suitable construction and is arranged to turn under the edges of cloth strip 112 to provide a hem (Figs. 5 and 14), while strips 113 and 114 pass under the cloth without `being hemmed.

,threaded bearing on plate .6 carries an externally threaded sleeve 126 (shown in dot and dash lines) upon which is secured a hand wheel 127. This sleeve .a'buts a shoulder upon shaft 121 and by turning this hand Wheel and vsleeve the shaft 121 is shifted axially, thus shifting the hemmer bodily to centerthe work with relation to the stroke of the sewing head. By turning hand wheel 128 secured on shaft 121 this shaft is turned, and the ,oppositely threaded portions 121a and 12111, shift the plates 124a and 12411 symmetrically about the centerline of the material to .accommodate the desired width of cloth and provide the required turned under portion for hemming. The three layers of material from the hemmer pass over the rollers v95, 94, and are held against these rollers by the pressure of the upper roller 91 which bears downwardly against both rollers 95 and 94 by mechanism to be later described, and when the rollers are driven they draw the material through the hemmer. The material vpasses over the work supporting surface 129, in which is pro'- vided atransverse slot 131, to the 'forward feed rollers.

Forward feed rollers At the forward end of the machine a pair of arms 132 and 132 are journalled upon a shaft '133 journalled in plates 5 and 64 and carrying a roller 134. Another roller 135journalled on a shaft 136 is carried by the arms. The shaft 136 of this roller `extends through an arcuate slot 137 (Fig. '1) in plate 5 and carries a pinion 138 at its end. A second roller 139 is carried on a shaft l140 extending through suitable slots in the frame, and carries a pinion 141 at its end. A driver gear 142 (Figs. 1 and 4) similar to gear 99 (Fig. 8) is journal-led onthehollow stud 44, and pinion 141 meshes with this gear and is driven thereby in one direction. Roller 134 is journalled for rotation on shaft 133, and this shaft extends through the side plate and carries on idler pinion 143 meshing with pinion `133 and driver gear 142. Roller 135 ybears on roller 139 and because of the engagement of gears 143l v Work hold down A bar 144 connects arms 132, 132 and at its ends carries a pair of links 145 swivelled thereon. A pair -of -arms 146, 146 suitably swivelled on the frame on stub shafts 147 are connected at their ends by pins 148 in slots 149 in links 145. Triangular bearing members 150 at the ends of arms 146, 146 carry rollers 151, 151 on opposite sides of slot 131. One or more springs 152 hold down arms 146, 146 to press rollers 151, 1.51 against the material to be sewed, and thus hold the material against the support surface 129.

If desired, work guide fingers 153, 153 may be vprovided on oppositely threaded shaft 154, the shaft 'being adjusted by an internally and externally threaded sleeve 155 having a hand wheel 156 thereon and byA Aa hand` wheel 157 on shaft 154.

Roller release A shaft 158 (Figs. 10 and 4) carries a crank arm 159 to which is secured a rod 160, which passes through a hole in cross bar 161 and is secured to bar 144, as by a threaded connection and -lock nut. A spring 162 abuts cross bar 161 at one end, and its other end is adjustably compressed by a washer 163 and lock nuts. This spring tends to raise rod 160 and thus presses arms 132, 132 counterclockwise (as viewed in Fig. 10) about shaft 133 to press roller 135 against roller 139. At its other end shaft 158 carries a foot pedal 164 which has an extension 165 (Fig. 10) to which a rod 166 is secured by a slip connection that may he adjusted by nuts 167. A yoke 168 is pivotally connected at its upper ends to the arms 86, 86 as indicated at 169, 169 and the rod 166 connects to the middle of the yoke. A compression spring 170 surrounds rod 166, one end of the spring engaging a cross har 171 on the frame of the machine and the other end engaging the yoke. The spring biases the yoke and rod upwardly thus pressing arms 86, 86' counterclockwise to press vroller 91 against rollers 94, 95. A foot pedal 172 (Fig. 1)

is provided at the opposite end of the shaft 158.

In initially Stringing the material through the machine, by depressing either foot pedal 164 or 172, the rod 166 and yyoke 168 raise roller 91 enough so that the material from the hammer may be pushed manually between rollers 91 and 94, 95. The depressing of the foot pedal also pulls down rod 160 and bar 144 thus raising roller 135 from roller 139. It should be noted that the slotted connection 148, 149 permits rollers 91 and 135 to be raised without raising rollers 151, 151', and to raise these latter rollers, it is necessary to depress the foot pedal still further so as to take up the lost motion provided by pin and slot connection 148, 149. The provision of foot pedals at the front and rear of `the machine enables the operator to raise the rollers from either end. Under some conditions, the roller 151 may be omitted, thus providing only one hold down roller 151.

Rear roller drive Referring to Figure 6, the stub shaft 101 carries the driver gear 99 and a sprocket 173 and ratchet wheel 174 integrally connected thereto. An arm 175 is freely swivelled on shaft 101 and is oscillated back and forth by connecting rod 176 pivotally connected thereto at one end at 177 (Figs. 8 and 13). At one end arm 175 carries the two pawls 178, 178 suitably swivelled thereon, and biased by springs 179 into engagement with the ratchet wheel 174. These pawls are arranged so that either one of them will engage a ratchet tooth, thus reducing lost motion to less than the distance between the teeth of the ratchet wheel. It will be seen that as the arm 175 is oscillated back and forth about shaft 101, one of the pawls will engage and drive ratchet wheel 174 and gear 99 in one direction, thus driving the rear feed rollers, the pinions of which mesh with gear 99, intermittently in one direction. On the reverse or idling stroke of arm 175 the pawls ordinarily would slide or ratchet over the teeth of the ratchet wheel, but provision is made to positively disengage the pawls on the idling stroke .for a purpose presently to be described.

A pair of pawl lifter arms 180 `tied together by a bolt 181 are pivoted to arm 175 at 182, these arms each having a finger 183 which engages projections 184 on the respective pawls. A collar 185 on the reduced end of shaft 101 is slidable axially thereon, and rollers 186 carried by arms 180 engage in a peripheral groove in this collar. It will be seen that when collar 185 is in the position shown in Figure 6, the fingers 180 release the pawls which are thus allowed to engage the ratchet wheel 174, but when the collar is shifted upwardly (to the left as seen in Figure 8) the lingers 180 will be rocked clockwise to lift and hold the pawls away from the ratchet wheel.

As seen in Figure 8, a stud 187 with a square head extends from plate 6, and a swivel 188 therein supports a curved shifter arm 189. At its upper end shifter arm 189 has a roller 190` which engages in the groove of collar 185 and the lower end of the arm carries a follower roller 191 'which engages cam flange or track 59. When roller 191 rides on a depressed portion 59h (or 59f) of this cam the arm 189 is in the position shown in full lines in Figure 8, thus allowing the pawls to engage the ratchet wheel. When follower 191 lies on an extended pontion 59g (or 59e) of the track 59, the collar 185 is held at the left as shown in dot and dash in Figure 8, thus holding the pawls out of engagement with the ratchet wheel.

Shifter arm 189 is biased by a tension spring 192 suitably connected thereto and to a part of the frame of the machine, and a tie rod 193 (Fig. l) connected between the arm and the frame steadies the shifter arm.

A boss 194 (Fig. 5) extends from the side plate 5 and a follower arm 195 (Fig. l) is journalled on stud 196 secured in this boss. At its lower end arm 195 has a follower roller 197 which engages the edge of cam 60 and arm 195 is rocked back and forth as cam 60 rotates. The upper end of arm 195 designated at 198 has a slot 199 in which is located a cross pin or bolt 200, and connecting rod 176 is secured thereto by a suitable clevis. As .arm 195 oscillates the connecting rod 176 is caused to reciprocate and in Iturn it oscillates pawl arm 175. Bolt 200 may be shifted as desired in this slot to adjust the stroke of rod 176, and may be locked in adjusted position by tightening this bolt. The arm 198 adjacent the slot may be graduated to facilitate adjustment.

Forward roller drive and its operation The stub shaft 44 (Figs. 1 and 4) carries the driver gear 142 and a sprocket wheel 201 and ratchet wheel 202 integral therewith. A pawl arm 203 (Fig. 16) journalled on the stub shaft carries pawls 204 biased by springs 205 into engagement with the ratchet wheel 202. The follower arm 195 has an angular extension 206 provided with a slot 207 in which is located a cross pin or bolt 208, and connecting rod 209 is secured thereto by a suitable clevis. The other end of connecting rod 209 is joined to pawl arm 203 by a suitable swivel pin 210. As arm extension 206 `oscillates it reciprocates connecting rod 209 vertically thus oscillating pawl arm 203. Bolt 208 may be shifted as desired in the slot to adjust the stroke of the connecting rod 209, and thus adjust the driving stroke of pawl arm 203.

A keyway 212 (Fig. 5) on the side plate 6 carries a block 213 to which is secured an idler sprocket 214 by a suitable clamping bolt 215. A chain 21.6 passes around sprocket wheels 99 and 142 and under idler sprocket 214, which may be adjusted vertically to take up slack in the chain. By this arrangement the two gears 99 and 142, are driven in unison.

Conjoint operation of feed rollers As the cam 60 rotates the follower arm 195 is oscillated. When the lower end carrying roller 197 is moved toward the right as seen in Fig. l, extension 206 and connecting rod 209 move downward and pawl arm 203 is rotated clockwise in its driving stroke, thus rotating ratchet wheel 202 and driver gear 142, which in turn drives the forward rollers 135 and 139 in a direction to feed material toward the left. Sprocket 201 is also rotated hy ratchet wheel 202 and through chain 216 `drives the sprocket wheel 173 and driver gear 99 clockwise, and the latter drives the rear feed rollers 91, 94 and 95 in a direction to feed material to the left. Referring to Figure 8, when the reverse driving gearing in box 31 is set to drive in the direction here referred to as forward (or clockwise as seen in Fig. l), the operating bar 38 is in the extreme right hand position shown by `dotted lines and thus holds the lower end of shifter arm 189 at the night, so that roller 191 is out of contact at all times with cam flange 59, and in this position the pawls 178 are held out of engagement with the ratchet wheel 174. For this reason, even though aft-71,045'

fnatchet ywheel 174 is rotating clockwise through a greater angular distance than arm 175 `is being moved by connecting rod f176, there is no interference between the pawl arm and ratchet wheel. In this position of the reversing lever .the feed rollers will be driven in unison intermittently to feed the material in one direction, namely, from right to left. Referring to Figs l and 23, when the cam 60 is rotating in forward direction (clockwise) and assuming point 60a .opposite roller 197, the roller follows cam curve l60e Vto .point 60b, thus moving .to the left to operate pawl `arm 203 to turn counterclo'ckwise in idling direction. From point 60b the roller follows curved edge 60]c to point 60c moving to the right to operate the feed rollers. From ypoint 60e .the roller follows curve 60g to point 60d to again move the pawl arm on its idling stroke, and from point 60d the roller follows curve 60h to the beginning point 60a to operate the pawl arm on its feeding stroke.

When the machine is operated in the reverse direction (counterclockwise as viewed in Figs. 1 and 23) the reverse lever 38 (Fig. 8) will be at the left, thus allowing follower roller 191 to follow cam flange 59. Now, while follower roller 197 is moving alongside 60e from point 60b1t0 point 60a on cam 60, to the right as seen in Fig. 1, .pawl arm 203 will be moved in its driving stroke and as roller .191 will lie on elevated part 59e of lcam 59, the pawls 178 are held retracted, so arm 203 drives the feed rollersto feed material forward (to the left). When roller 197 rides on curve 60h from 60a to 60d, roller 191 lies on depressed portion 59h of the cam track 59, so that l pawls 178 engage ratchet wheel 174, and as connecting rod 176 moves arm 175 counterclockwise it drives the feed rollers to move the material from left to right.

Ratchet wheel 202 is being rotated counterclockwise through chain 216 and pawl armY 203 is being turned counterclockwise by its connecting rod. Pawl arm 203 has a longer angle of stroke than pawl arm 175, so its pawls 203 ratchet or idle over ratchet wheel 202 and do not -interfere with counterclockwise rotation. In moving from point 60d to 60e pawl arm 203 again drives ratchet wheel 202 to rotate the feed rolls for forward feed, and follower roller 191 lies on the raised portion 59g of cam 59 to hold pawls 178 retracted. When the follower 197 moves from point 60e to .60b, pawl arm 175 again drives the feed rollers for reverse feed. Thus, when the machine is operated in reverse direction, the material is fed through the machine alternately forward and reverse, and as the forward feed is greater than the reverse feed, the material is advanced through the machine.

Rollers 135, 139 have a slightly greater diameter than rollers 91, 94 and 95 (on the order of a few thousandths of 'an inch) and when the material is fed forwardly the former apply a tension to the material which helps to prevent bunching or wrinkling at the needle. This tension is -not cumulative, because if the tension becomes great enough the rollers slip slightly over the material. On the reverse feed the hold down Vrollers 1'51, 151' confine the slack or tension relief to the portion of the material rearwardly of the needle (to the right as seen in Fig. and this slack is taken up again on` the forward feed.

Wind `up reel An extension 218 on the housing (Fig. 3) carries a shaft y219 (Figs. 3 and 15) having a ange 221 :and a threaded portion 222. A threaded sleeve 223 of the wind upreel 224 (Fig. 2) is received on the threaded portion of this shaft, and is locked to rotate therewith by the lock nut 225. This reel preferably is adjustable in width to accommodate diiferent Widths of material. A disc 226 having a facing 227 of friction material is rotatable on shaft`219 and has a sprocket wheel 228 integral therewith. Aspring 229 abutting the extension at one ,end biases the sprocket wheel, disc 226 and facing 227 against disc' 221 so," that when disc 226 is rotated it frictionally drives shaft 219 and the reel locked thereon. The .shaft-tl40 (Fig. 5,) of forward feed roller 139 carries a .sprocket V231, and -a chain .232 passes .around this sprocketand sprocket 228 to `drive the reel in synchronism therewith. The friction drive allows slippage when the materialis being wound on a small diameter, and also allows thereel to unwind when the feed rolls are feeding inthe reverse direction, that is, from left to right as yseen in vFigure l.

Modified material support In the modified bracket shown in Figure. l1 the conveyor and its drive are omitted, being replaced-,by'an .i11- clined plate or chute 234`which receives the wadding 113 from its roll and the wadding is drawn 4into the machine by the feed rollers. Side guides 235 positioned on'rplate 234 are adjustable laterally by the screwed rods236-which are locked in adjusted 4position by the thumb screws. These guides serve to center the wadding relative to the hemmer as it is fed thereto. Also, an extension 23,7 on the bracket carries suitable tensionomeans (not shown) so -that where the cloth to `form the outer layer is "in strips, rather than in rolls, it may be fed under suitable tension to the hemmer `over the tension means.

Operation The machine is capable of forming two general forms or patterns of stitching `with numerous'variations-foffdee sign. One pattern designated as vertical stitchinggi's' shown in Figs. 18 and 19, and the other pattern designatedas crossed stitching is shown in Figures 2O to 22. Themachine can be changed from the production of one ydesign to the production of the other design merely by operation of the reversing lever. The operation in producing the vertical stitch design, accomplishedby forward or clockwise rotation of the cams will rst be explained.

In the forward position of reversingrod 38 cam roller 191 is maintained at all times at its extreme right, as Shown in dotted lines in Figure S, so that it does not engage cam 59. Hence, .pawls Y178 are maintained at all times out of contact with ratchet wheel 174, so the pawl arm idles.

Referring to Figures 17, 18 and 4 when the roller 69 lies at point 58a the `sewing .head 15 is at the right `end of its stroke ready to-move to the left, andfollower roller 197 (Fig. 23) is .at pointf60a .on cam 60 ready to move to the left. As `the head moves cam 60 rotates and follower 197 moves on its idling stroke, so the web yremains stationary. The needle therefore sews across the web from a Vto b (Fig. 18). At 58b the sewing head dwells and roller 197 is at its furthermost point 60b on cam 60. Continued rotation of cam 60 moves roller 197 to the right along `cam edge 60f to actuate pawl arm 203 clockwise to actuatev the feed rollers to feed the material to the left, thus producing a line of stitches from b to c. At 158e the sewing head starts its return traverse while the roller 197 travels along cam edge 60g and the feed pawl 4arm 203 again idles, thus forming the line of stitches c to d, and at 58d the sewing head again dwells while roller 197 travels along cam edge 60h to actuate the pawl arm 203 clockwise and the web is fed forward to form the line of stitches d to a. From here the cycle rst described is repeated.

By adjusting the stroke of the sewing head the line of stitches a to b can be made of any desiredl length to vary the design or to accommodate any desired width of mateof vertical Astitches La. yb Aand c, 5d, vas shown ,in Figure 19.

By changing the speed of rotation of camv cylinder 57, the length of stitch is adjusted as previously described. This adjustment also changes the length of stitch on the lengthwise lines of stitching b, c or d, a, because the reciprocation of the sewing head and feed are synchronized as they are driven from the drive shaft 53 which directly drives their respective cams.

When the cams are operated in counterclockwise direction, cam roller 191 is released by reversing rod 38 to engage cam 59, and the stitch designs shown in Figs. 20 to'22 may be produced. Although the rotation of cam 58 is reversed, its action is the same in either direction of rotation. When the sewing head starts its traverse on carn 58 to 58C, the roller 197 is moving on cam edge 60g to the right from 60a' to 60C, to actuate the pawl arm 203 clockwise and turn the feeding rolls forward, thus producing the line of stitches (Fig. 20) 60d to 60e. When the sewing head is dwelling between 58C and 58b, the roller 197 travels on cam edge 60]c to the left from 60e to 60b, and follower roller 191 engages portion 597 of cam 59, so a pawl 178 engages ratchet wheel 174 to drive the feeding rolls in reverse to produce the line of stitches 60C to 60b. As the sewing head moves from 58b to 58a roller 197 travels on cam edge 60e to drive pawl arm 203 clockwise and `feed the web forwardly to produce the line of stitches 60b to 60a, and while the sewing head dwells at 58a the roller 197 travels on cam edge 6011 to reverse the web, and the line of stitches 60a to 60b is formed to start another cycle.

In Figure 20, the forward feed is from 60d to 60e and the reverse feed is from 60e to 60b, thus producing the crossed stitch pattern illustrated. The reverse feed can be adjusted by shifting cross pin 200 in slot 199. By shifting it .up the reverse feed is increased and by shifting it down the reverse feed is decreased. By adjustment of the reverse and forward feeds a great variety of designs of sewing can be produced. Also, by adjusting the stroke of the sewing head the crossed stitches may be run to the edges of the material or may be stopped short of the edges.

The design shown in Figure 2l is produced by having the reverse feed at about four-fifths of the forward feed. Because of the complexity of the pattern the description is supplemented by numbers. The stitches run from 60d to 60C, to 60b, to 60a, to 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, l0, 11 (60e), l2, 13 (60a), 14, etc. In Figure 22 the reverse feed is about two-thirds of the forward feed and the stitches run from 60d to 60e, to 60b, to 60a, to 5, 6, 7, (60C), 8, 9 (60a), l0, etc. It will be apparent that the closer the reverse feed approaches the forwardfeed, the greater will be the number of times the stitches cross.

It will be seen that the portions 60j and 60h of cam 60 serve to intermittently operate the web feeding means in one direction. Thus, when producing vertical stitching this cam portion operates the feed forward intermittently, and when producing crossed stitching this cam portion operates the feed rearward intermittently. The portions 60e and 60g of cam 60 intermittently operate the feed in one direction (the opposite or forward direction) when producing crossed stitching, and on vertical stitching these portions of the cam are rendered inoperative, this taking place while the head is movingacross the web.

In the mechanism illustrated, the selection between the two feed mechanisms is made by reversing the direction of rotation of cam 60. The sewing head reciprocates in the same manner whether the machine is producing vertical stitching or crossed stitching, and it is not necessary, therefore, to reverse the direction of rotation of cam S. However, in the preferred embodiment illustrated, when cam 60 is reversed, cam 58 also is reversed. The invention is not confined to reversing mechanism for selectively changing the feed from intermittently in one direction to alternately in opposite directions,w as this change may be accomplished by supplying the web from the opposite end of the machine while the forward feed is rendered inoperative; or by other selective mechanisms which change the phase relationship of feed to head stroke, so that under one set of operating conditions the feed occurs in one direction while the head is reciprocating, and under another set of operating conditions the feed mechanism is reverse, with or without idling periods.

When operating with the modified form of cam 238 shown in Figure 24 a modified design is produced. In this cam the dwell period of the sewing head is eliminated. The ends of track portions 238e and 238g are joined by curved portions 238f and 238k. On forward rotation this cam produces the design shown in Figure 25, where the curved stitched portions h and f are made while the head is on portions 238k and 238f of the cam track.

When the stroke of the sewing head is adjusted to cause the needle to run off of the material at the ends, the design shown in Figure 26 is produced. That is, while the needle is operating oif of the material the feed of material occurs, thus pulling thread through the needle, this thread being twisted by the looper with the bobbin thread, and the feed of material stops when the needle reenters the material on the return stroke. This produces a twisted connecting strand 239 which lies adjacent the edge of the material. An advantage of this arrangement is that the connecting strand does not add to the bulk of the seam when the material is sewn to the mattress, and the strand is covered and is invisible. Also, in operating in this way, the hold down roller 151 and guides 153, 153 may be omitted.

When operating in reverse rotation, designs illustrated in Figs. 27, 28 and 29 can be produced. Referring to Figure 27, starting at l, the sewing head is traversing and the material is being fed forwardly, and at the point 2 the sewing head starts on the connecting curved track portion 2381; Here the reverse feed starts and the curved line of stitches 2387 is formed, and at 3 the forward feed begins and the sewing head starts its return traverse. At 4 the sewing head enters the curved cam portion 23S/1 and the reverse feed starts, and at 5 the forward feed starts and the traverse of the needle is resumed. The pattern continues as indicated by the numbers 6, 7, 8, 9, etc.

The design in Figure 28 is made similarly by a different forward feed-reverse feed ratio, and the course of the needle can be traced by following the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, etc.

In producing Figure 29, the needle is run off of the material to produce a twisted strand 239 lying adjacent the edge of the material. In this pattern the reverse feed is two-thirds of the forward feed. By changing the stroke of the head and varying the feed ratios, a large variety of patterns or designs can be produced. Also, by modifying the portions 238e and 238g of the cam other variations in design, such as a figure eight, or a circle, may be produced.

I claim as my invention:

l. The method of stitching a web of material which comprises:` sewing said web with a needle moving transversely while moving said web longitudinally with a generally rectilinear movement in one direction to produce a line of stitches extending generally transversely of the web from one longitudinal edge to the other; moving said web longitudinally in the opposite direction While said needle remains in a stationary position to produce a line of stitches extending generally longitudinally of the web; then moving said web longitudinally in Said one direction while moving said needle transversely to produce a line of stitches extending generally diagonally of the web and intersecting `the tirst line of stitches; then moving said web longitudinally with a generally rectilinear movement in said opposite direction while said needle remains in a stationary position; one of said longi- 13 itulinal movements of the web being greater than the other. v 2. The method of stitching a web of material as speci- :ied in claim ll wherein: said ,needle forms connecting stitches off of the web while it remains in said stationary lpositions.

3. An apparatus for sewing a web of material which comprises: a web support; a sewing head operating a .slewing needle; webrfeeding means for alternately forwardly and rearwardly feeding a web of material .over said support to said needle in a longitudinal direction; and means for reciprocating said sewing head transversely of the support in timed relation with the feeding means.

1 4. An apparatus as specified in claim 3 having means holding said sewing head at the end of each reciprocating stroke while the feeding means is operating rearwardly. 5 An apparatus as specified in claim 4 wherein the means for reciprocating the sewing head operates during the forward feed. v

v6. KAn 'apparatus as specied in claim 3 having means for adjusting the head reciprocating means for varying the length of the reciprocating stroke of the sewing head. ,7. An apparatus as specified in claim 3 wherein the forward and rearward feeds of the web'are unequal.

8. An apparatus as specified in claim 3 having vmeans for adjusting the web feeding means to vary the rate of feed ofthe web.

v9. An apparatus as specified in claim 3 having means for adjusting the web feeding means to vary the forward rate of feed of the web. Y j, 10. An apparatus for sewing a web of material lwhich comprises: a web support; a sewing head operating a sewing needle; means for moving said sewing head across the support; means for feeding a web of material longitudinally in one direction across :the support; and means for alternately reversely feeding the web ofmaterial unequally in the opposite direction across the support.

j ll. Ina web sewing apparatus: a support for said web; a pairof feed rolls adjacent the intake end of the support; apair of feed rolls adjacent the discharge vend ofthe support; means intermittently driving the feed rolls in .one direction to feed the web in one direction; means intermittently driving the feed rolls in the opposite :direction to feed the web in the opposite directioma sewing head operatingL a sewing needle; and Ameans for reciprocating said sewing'head across said support transverse Vto the direction of feed.

12. An apparatus forsewing a web of material comprising: a web support; a sewing head operating a'sewing needle; a motor; .a cam carrier havingfa plurality of cams thereon; power transmission means `,between the motor and cam carrier including a reversing drive for selectively rotating the cam carrier in :either direction; transmission mechanism between the cam carrier and sewing head `cooperating with one of said cams-'to reciprocate said head; and feed means actuated by another of said cams on said carrier for alternately feeding material through said apparatus.

13. An apparatus as specifiedy in claim 12 wherein said feed means includes intermittently operated means 'for feeding materialin one direction; intermittently operated means for feeding material in the opposite direction; and means associated with the reversing drive for holding one of said intermittent feeding means inoperative in one position of the reversing drive.

14. An apparatus as specified in claim l2 wherein said feed means includes rotary feed rollers at opposite sides of the sewing needle coupled for conjoint operation; a pair of transmission means for alternately driving said rollers intermittently to feed in opposite directions including uncoupling means for intermittently disconnecting one of said pair of transmission means when the other `1 i of said pair is driving.

15. An apparatus as specied i-n claim 14 having means 14 f associated with the reversing drive for holding the -uncoupling means in disconnected position when the reversing drive is in one of its positions.

16. An apparatus as specified in claim l2 wherein `the power transmission means between the motor and cam carrier includes speed changing mechanism.

l7. An apparatus as specified in claim l2 having power transmission means between the motor and sewing needle in advance of the reversing drive to operate said needle.

18. In an Iapparatus for sewing a web of material: ya sewing head operating a sewing needle; means for reciprocating said sewing hea-d; web feeding means; reversible actuating means for the web feeding means operative lin one direction to intermittently Iactuate the web feeding means in forward direction, and operative in the reverse direction to actuate the web feeding means alternately in forward and reverse directions; and means for selectively reversing said actuating means.

19. An apparatus for sewing a web Vof material comprising: a web support; a sewing head reciprocable across said support; feeding means at the ends of said support comprising pinch rolls; ratchet drive means coupled to said rolls for driving said rolls in one direction; a second ratchet-drive means coupled to said rolls for driving said rolls in the opposite direction; and means for disengaging one of said ratchet means while the other ratchet means is in driving engagement.

20. In an apparatus for sewing a web: a frame; a sewing mechanism mounted on said frame for sewing said web; a feed roller mounted in said frame for vertical movement; a hold down member adjacent the sewing mechanism; means lconnecting said feed roller and hold down member for conjoint vertical movement; -and a manually operated member extending from said means formoving the same.

2l. A sewing apparatus as specified in claim 20 having a second feed roller mounted on the frame for vertical movement and connected to said manually operated member.

22. In an apparatus for sewing a web of material: a sewing head operating a sewing needle; means for reciprocating said sewing head; web feeding means yfor feeding a web of material to said needle; a reversible mechanism including `alternately operating means for actuating said web feeding means alternately in forward and reverse directions; and reversing means for said mechanism `including-means for rendering one of said alternately voperating means inoperative in one position of said reversing means.

23. An apparatus as specified in claim 22 wherein said means for reciprocating said sewing head is synchronously driven with the reversible mechanism in oneposition of the reversing means to feed the web while the sewing head is reciprocating.

24. An apparatus as specified in claim 22 wherein the means for reciprocating the sewing head provides a dwell for the sewing head at one end of its stroke; said means is synchronously driven with the reversible mechanism lin one position of the reversing means to feed the web forward while the head dwells; and in the other position of the reversing means to feed the web in reverse `direction while the head dwells.

25. In an apparatus for sewing a web: a sewing head operating a sewing needle; means for reciprocating said sewing head; web feeding means for feeding a web of material to said needle; a cam; transmission means between said cam and web feeding means for operating said web feeding means intermittently in one direction; transmission means between said cam and web feeding means for operating said web feeding means intermittently in the opposite direction; and selective means for rendering one of said transmission means inoperative.

26. An apparatus as specified in claim 25 wherein said cam has plural timing portions cooperating with said transmission means.

27. An apparatus as specified in claim wherein each said transmission nreans comprises pawl and ratchet means.

28. An apparatus as specified in claim 25 having means for reversing the rotation of said cam.

29. In an apparatus for sewing a web: a sewing head operating a sewing needle; means for reciprocating said sewing head; reversible web feeding means for feeding a web of material to said needle; a rotary cam; transmission means cooperating with the cam and connected to the web feeding means for driving the web feeding means forwardly during one portion of the cam rotation and rearwardly during another portion of the cam rotation; and means for selectively rendering said transmission means inoperative during one portion of the cam rotation.

30. In an apparatus for sewing a web: a sewing head operating a sewing needle; means for reciprocating said sewing head; reversible web feeding means; a rotary cam having a forward feed portion and a rearward feed portion; power transmission means cooperating with said cam portions and feeding means for driving said feeding means alternately forward and rearward respectively; means for reciprocating said sewing head across the web, in synchronism with one of said cam portions to traverse said web while the transmission mechanism is opposite said one cam portion; and means for selectively changing the relation of said transmission mechanism to said reciprocating means to cause the head to traverse said web while the transmission means is opposite said other portion of the cam.

31. In an apparatus for sewing a web: a sewing head operating a sewing needle; means for reciprocating said sewing head; web feeding means; a first means timed relative to the sewing head for intermittently operating said web feeding means in one direction while the sewing head is moving across the web; a second means for intermittently operating said web feeding means in the opposite direction; while the sewing head is near the ends of its movement and selective means for rendering said first means inoperative while the sewing head is moving across the web.

32. An apparatus as specified in claim 31 wherein said selective means includes reversing means for changing the direction of operation of said second means.

33. In an -apparatus for sewing a web: `a sewing head operating a sewing needle; means for reciprocating said sewing head; web feeding means for feeding a web of material to said needle; means for intermittently operating said web feeding means in one direction; means for operating said web feeding means alternately in opposite directions; `and means for selectively rendering one of said latter two means inoperative.

34. In an apparatus for sewing a web: a sewing head operating a sewing needle; means for reciprocating said sewing head; web feeding means for feeding a web of material to said needle; a iirst means intermittently operating and timed relative to the movement of the sewing head to commence operation of said web feeding means at a predetermined time in the reciprocation of said head; and means for selectively changing timed relation of said head and first means to stop operation of the web feeding means at said predetermined time in the reciprocation of said head.

fil

`material to said needle including oppositely acting ratchet means; common drive means coupled to said ratchet means for driving said ratchet means; and selective means for rendering one of said ratchet means inoperative.

36. .An apparatus as specified in claim 35 wherein: said ratchet means includes ratchet wheels coupled for conjoint rotation; and pawls for each ratchet wheel driven by said common drive means; and having means for maintaining one of said pawls out of engagement with its ratchet wheel while the other pawl is driving.

37. An apparatus as specified in claim 35 wherein said common drive means comprises an oscillating arm; and connecting rods between said arm and ratchet means.

38. An apparatus as specified in claim 37 wherein `said connecting rods are adjustable along said arm to vary the stroke thereof. A

39. An apparatus as specified in claim 37 wherein said arm has branches with said connecting rods connected to said respective branches.

40. An apparatus as specified in claim 8 having means for adjusting the web feeding means to vary the rearward rate of feed of the web.

41. In a web sewing apparatus: web support means; a pair of edge guides for said web; a screw threaded socket adjacent said guides; means for adjusting said edge guides individually and in unison laterally across the support means comprising a shaft passing through said socket having opposed screw threaded portions connected by complementary threads to said edge guides; and an internally threaded sleeve passing through said socket, said sleeve being threaded on said shaft and being externally threaded to cooperate with said socket; rotation of said sleeve causing longitudinal movement of said shaft to shift said edge guides in unison, and rotation of said shaft in the socket shifting the spacing of said edge guides.

42. In an apparatus for sewing a web of material: a support for the web; a set of power coupled feed rolls adjacent the forward end of said support to receive and grip said web; a set of power coupled feed rolls adjacent the rear end of said support to receive and grip said web; and common power means coupled to said sets of rolls to rotate said rolls, the peripheral speed of the forward feed rolls being greater than the `peripheral speed of the rear feed rolls to maintain the web between the sets of rolls under tension, and means operating a sewing needle to pass the needle into the web between the sets of rolls, said common power means being reversible and including means for disengaging one set of rolls while driving the other set in reverse direction.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS i 221,650 Wright Nov. 11, 1879 276,480 Schultz Apr. 24,;,1883 358,808 Gandy Mar. l, 1887 2,318,686 Hathaway May 11, 1943 2,336,404 Kelly Dec. 11, 1943 2,382,486 Kelly Aug. 14, 1945 

